By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Anthony Bennett will continue his career in Europe as a member of Fenerbahce. Sources close to the situation confirmed to Eurohoops that the player was set to be announced as the new addition of the team and on Friday morning the club confirmed the deal.
The former No. 1 NBA draft pick was released by the Brooklyn Nets on the 9th of January and now he will have the chance to build up his name again as a member of a EuroLeague title contender.
In his new team, he joins a group of former NBA-ers such as Ekpe Udoh, Jan Vesely, Gigi Datome, Pero Antic and will be coached by Zeljko Obradovic, the most celebrated coach in the history of European basketball.
Bennett played college basketball for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was the first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming the first Canadian to be drafted number one overall and he is also a member of the Canadian men’s national basketball team.
The 23-year-old, 2.03 m. big man aims to prove with his game in the highest-level of basketball outside of the NBA that he has the chance to be the player that every one expected him to be when he entered the best league in the planet.
His deal with Fenerbahce will keep him in Turkey at least until the end of the season. The general manager of Fenerbahce is Maurizio Gherardini who is also a member of Canada Basketball’s Council Of Excellence, the governing body for basketball in Canada.